Electroplating-rack.



J. F. KITCHEN. ELEGTROPLATING RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. 1909.

1,010,638. Patented Dec.5,1911.

FIG-1 COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0 WASHINGTON u a JOHN F. KITCHEN,

OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNQR TO THE SPIRELLA COMPANY, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF'PENNSYLVAN IA.

ELECTROPLATING-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

Application filed June 26, 1909. Serial No. 504,443.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. KITCHEN, a resident of Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electroplating-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to racks or hangers for use in electroplating metal articles, and more particularly to cathode hangers for electroplating.

In electroplating all bare metallic surfaces connected with thecathode andimmersed in the bath or solution receive a deposit of the metal and consequently the metallic supports which hold the work or convey the current become heavily coated. This coating is practically wasted or, at least has to be recovered at considerable expense, and

in addition to this its deposit-ion involves a wasteful consumption of current.

The object of my invention is to reduce to a minimum the bare surface of the rack outside of that necessary to make a proper electrical contact with the article to be plated. It also provides for holding all parts of the work to be plated practically equidistant from the anode so that all portions of the article are uniformly coated.

The invention comprises a rack constructed and arranged as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a sectional view of a portion of an electroplating tank showing the rack in position; Fig. 2 is an end view of the rack; and Fig. 3 is a side view thereof, partly in section.

In the drawings the electroplating tank is shown at 1 and the cathode conductorat 2. The anode is not shown, but will be arranged as is usual in such cases, an anode preferably being placed on each side of the cathode as is the usual practice and as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The rack comprises two similar side members 8 and metal cross connecting members 4. The side members are shown in the form of flat strips of copper, brass or other good conducting metal provided with holes through which the reduced ends of the cross Preferably bars 4 project and are secured by nuts5. The upper ends of the side members are somewhat narrower than their main portions and are twisted and bent to form hooks 6 by means of which the hanger can be suspended from the cathode conductor. The side members 3 areprovided with a series of holes 7 through which the articles to be coated are inserted and in that manner held. there will be two vertical series of holes, the holes of the two series being staggered or arranged in alternate-relation as shown in Fig. 2 so as to give the solution full access to both sides of the work. The current passes from the work into the cathode hanger by the contact of the work with the metal forming the perimeter of the hole 7. To prevent the metal from depositing on the side members themselves these are covered with a suitable insulating coating, which may be an insulating paint or enamel or a rubber or similar composition applied to the surface and afterward baked or vulcanized to form a firm and closely adhering coating thereon. This coating is indicated at 9. This coating extends above the level of the solution in the tank. If desired the cross connecting rods 4 may also be coated in the same, or in any other suitable way. In manufacturing the side members are thoroughly coated with the insulating composition and baked or vulcanized as necessary, after which the holes 7 are reamed out to remove the insulating compound from the same and leave the bright metal exposed around said holes in order to form a good electrical contact for the article. In use this exposed metal becomes coated with a metal deposit, which when it becomes excessive can be readily removed by again reaming the holes. The rack therefore provides for keeping a good electrical contact with the work and without the necessity ofv discarding the rack and at the very low cost of reaming out the holes occasionally. The rack is durable and provides for the ready attachment and detachment of work so as to save labor cost in this particular and also provides for holding the work practically a uniform distance from the anode to insure a uniform coating of the work.

The openings 7 need not be in the forms of holes through the strips as shown, but may be openings notched or cut in the edges of the strips.

What I claim is:

1. A cathode hanger for electro-plating, comprising a conducting strip provided at one end with a hanger attachment and having its body provided with openings for support-ing the Work, said body havlng there on an insulating covering so applied as to leave the metal at the edges of the openings exposed.

2. A cathode hanger for electro-plating, comprising a conducting strip provided at one end with a hanger attachment and having its body provided with openings therein for supporting the work, said body being coated with a closely adhering covering of plastic insulating material so applied as to leave the metal at the edges of the openings exposed.

3. A cathode hanger for electroplating,

comprising a pair of metal strips each provided at one end with a hanger attachment and having its body provided with openings therein for supporting the work, said bodies being provided with an insulating covering so arranged as to leave the metal at the edges of the openings exposed, and cross members connecting said strips.

4. A cathode hanger for electroplating, comprising a pair of metallic strips provided with article supporting openings, cross connecting members therefor, and a closely adhering coating of insulating com position covering said strips but leaving the metal at the edges of the openings exosed.

5. A cathode hanger for electro-plating, comprising a pair of metallic strips provided with openings therein, and cross members connecting said strips, said strips having their side and edge faces covered by a coating of closely adhering plastic insulating composition, said coating not extending into the openings in said strips.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN F. KITCHEN. Witnesses:

J. H. PARDEE, ERMA PORTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

